Stretchable tubular fabric

ABSTRACT

A tubular stretchable fabric for use to bind surgical dressings, wounds and the like which includes a first plurality of relatively inelastic stitched warp threads and second plurality of relatively elastic weft threads with each thread being alternately interstitched with adjoining threads of the first plurality of threads to provide rectangular openings which enlarge when the fabric is stretched.

United States Patent 1 Meyer [4 1 July 24, 1973 STRETCHABLE TUBULARFABRIC [76] Inventor: Robert B. Meyer, 25 Luddington Rd., West Orange,NJ.

[22] Filed: Sept. 15, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 180,638

Miwtz 66/195 X 3,570,482 3/1971 Emoto et al. 66/193 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 85,569 7/1965 France 66/195 Primary Examiner-RonaldFeldbaum Attorney-Eugene E. Geoffrey, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A tubular stretchable fabric for use to bind surgicaldressings, wounds and the like which includes a first plurality ofrelatively inelastic stitched warp threads and second plurality ofrelatively elastic weft threads with each thread being alternatelyinterstitched with adjoining threads of the first plurality of threadsto provide rectangular openings which enlarge when the fabric isstretched.

1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures PAIENIEU HL 3'. 747. 374

SHEEI 1 0F 2 Tlcl. I I I T F- INVENTOR PATENIED JUL 2 4 I975 SHEET 2 OF2 STRETCHABLE TUBULAR FABRIC This invention relates to stretchablefabrics and, more particularly, a tubular stretchable fabric useful,among other things, for binding surgical dressings or injured parts ofthe body.

Woven and knitted bandage fabrics have been heretofore suggested for usein covering bandages and protecting injured portions of the body, butknown structures have not been found to be satisfactory for a number ofreasons including insufficient elasticity and durability.

One object of the invention resides in the provision of a relativelystretchable and highly durable net-like fabric for covering and bindingbandages in place or for covering and protecting injured parts of thebody.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an improvedstretchable tubular fabric which has an enlargeable array of net-likerectangular openings when the fabric is in use for improved airation ofthe affected area of the body being covered by the fabric and isflexible enough to allow free movement of parts of the body covered bythe fabric and yet possesses sufficient tension to retain itself firmlyin position.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing astretchable, tubular fabric which includes a first group of relativelyinelastic warp threads and a second group of relatively elastic weftthreads interstitched with the first group to provide an array ofsubstantially rectangular openings which enlarge when the fabric isstretched and shrink when the fabric is released.

Various other objects and features of the invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description and the illustrativedrawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a fragmentary section of stretchable fabricaccording to the invention in a state of rest with elastic weft threadsjoining the warp threads.

FIG. 2A is a plan view of a fragmentary portion of the fabric of FIG. 1when in the stretched condition.

FIG. 2B is a plan view of a fragmentary section of a modified fabric inaccordance with the invention which includes a second set of elasticthreads to reinforce the first set of elastic threads.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tubular stretchable fabric inposition on an arm to hold a dressing in place.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic drawings of the front and back halves ofthe tubular fabric knitted according to a stitching formula inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of a section of the tubular stretchablefabric in accordance with the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, the tubular fabric comprises agroup of relatively inelastic warp threads I stitched in like coursesextending in an axial direction as indicated by the arrow and a group ofrelatively elastic weft threads II interstitched or knitted withadjoining pairs of the inelastic threads I in circumferential directionfor providing an array of rectangular openings. As the fabric stretchesthe openings enlarge as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B and retract and holdthe bandage dressing in place when released over a part of the body suchas the arm as shown in FIG. 3. The ability of the fabric to stretch andretract can be strengthened,

when necessary, by interknitting an additional set of stretchablethreads II with adjoining courses of inelastic threads as generallyshown in FIG. 25.

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 5 illustrate a stretchable fabric according to thepresent invention knitted in a tubular form using the conventionalRaschel Knitting Machine having front and back needle beds. The frontand back needle beds include sets of needles threaded with therelatively elastic and inelastic threads to form the front and backhalves of the knitted fabric. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4Aand 4B, the front and back halves of the fabric may include a pluralityof relatively inelastic warp threads II and V of a suitable plastic,such as a polyester or polypropylene, stitched in chains and running inthe axial direction as indicated by the arrows and relatively elasticweft threads I and VI of a suitable natural or synthetic rubberinterknitted with the adjoining chains of the inelastic warp threads IIand V and a pair of elastic warp threads II and IV, each interstitchingthe two side edges, the front and back halves as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.The fabric may be knitted in accordance with the following table whichshows each cycle of the lapping formulas of various threads:

OQOOOOONANNNNNNNNNNNbNQNE Various other modifications and changes may bemade to the'fabric of the present invention described above withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A stretchable tubular fabric formed by a warp knitting machine havingfront and back needle beds, said front needle bed including a first setof needles threaded with relatively inelastic threads stitched in chainsin accordance with a lapping formula 0-0, 02, 2-2, 2-0 and a second setof needles threaded with relatively elastic threads to interknitadjoining chains being formed by said first set of needles in accordancewith a lapping formula 4-4, 4-6, 6-6, 6-6, 4-4, 4-6, 2-2, 2-0, 0-0, 0-0,2-2, 2-0 for forming the front half of the fabric, said back needle bedincluding a third set of needles threaded with relatively inelasticthreads stitched in chains in accordance with a lapping formula 0-2,2-2, 2-0, 0-0, a fourth set of needles threaded with relatively elasticthreads to interknit adjoining chains being formed by said third set ofneedles in accordance with a lapping formula 4-6, 2-2, 2-0, 0-0, 0-0,2-2, 2-0, 4-4, 4-6, 6-6, 6-6, 4-4, for forming the front half of thefabric, a first relatively elastic thread interstitching the two edgeson edges on the other side of the two halves of the fabric in accordancewith a lapping formula 2-2, 2-4, 2-0 2-2, 2-2, 2-2, 2-0, 2-4, 2-2, 2-2,2-2, 2-2.

1. A stretchable tubular fabric formed by a warp knitting machine havingfront and back needle beds, said front needle bed including a first setof needles threaded with relatively inelastic threads stitched in chainsin accordance with a lapping formula 0-0, 0-2, 2-2, 2-0 and a second setof needles threaded with relatively elastic threads to interknitadjoining chains being formed by said first set of needles in accordancewith a lapping formula 4-4, 4-6, 6-6, 6-6, 4-4, 4-6, 2-2, 2-0, 0-0, 0-0,2-2, 2-0 for forming the front half of the fabric, said back needle bedincluding a third set of needles threaded with relatively inelasticthreads stitched in chains in accordance with a lapping formula 0-2,2-2, 2-0, 0-0, a fourth set of needles threaded with relatively elasticthreads to interknit adjoining chains being formed by said third set ofneedles in accordance with a lapping formula 4-6, 2-2, 2-0, 0-0, 0-0,2-2, 2-0, 4-4, 4-6, 6-6, 6-6, 4-4, for forming the front half of thefabric, a first relatively elastic thread interstitching the two edgeson one side of the two halves of the fabric in accordance with a lappingformula 2-0, 2-4, 2-2, 2-2, 2-2, 2-2, 2-2, 2-2, 24, 2-0, 0-0, 0-0, 0-0,and a second relatively elastic thread interstitching the twO edges onthe other side of the two halves of the fabric in accordance with alapping formula 2-2, 2-4, 2-0, 2-2, 2-2, 2-2, 2-0, 2-4, 2-2, 2-2, 2-2,2-2.